Are we there yet?

Thanksgiving week! Hunting season, Turkey Trots, and driving hours for a large meal and tons of family. I don't know what I'm most excited about!

Tomorrow I embark on my 6 hour drive to the NY/NJ Metropolitan area with 3 little kids and no husband (poor man has to work). :( No worries, I've done the drive before by myself a million times, just not with 3 kids. In my head I have it all planned out.. stop every two hours to stretch our legs, get some air, and change diapers. Travis will be able to watch a DVD in the truck for the first time. Eileen is a little too young for the DVD's, but she should be fine, and I'm hoping Tyler just sleeps the whole way.
Now, here is how it's really going to go. Travis will get car sick watching the DVD's, but will insist on watching them because the kid would watch videos until his eyes bled. Eileen will have a major pooptastrophy and require multiple changes of clothes along with being cranky and whiny the whole day, and Tyler will scream for at least half the trip. I might bring some ear plugs just in case!

On to the Turkey Trotting....
This past weekend I rode in my first ever cyclocross race. I haven't ridden my bike in a very long time, and my sit bones were sore just from riding one lap on Friday, but I think I did ok, and I'm glad I did it.  It felt really good to be on my bike again, and you have to take the opportunity when you get it. This race was at our house, so I didn't have to pack the kids up and take them to a baby sitter.
On Sunday I did have to pack the kids up and take them to the babysitter. When I thought I had everything ready and I was going to put the kids in the car, Eileen with a poopy diaper. Never Fails! I still made it in plenty of time. I ran the Rowlesburg 5k and got my ass kicked by a high school kid. I knew it was going to happen, but it didn't make it any easier to take. What do I expect though, I'm still carrying 10 extra pounds and I haven't done any speed work, in fact, that was my speed work. On Thursday I will run a 5 miler which will be my second hard run postpartum. I'm hoping the plan of going out more conservatively this time will help with the hurt.

Paleo during the holidays....
The past week or so I've been pretty good with my diet. It is a team challenge, after all, so I feel I have to bring it! But this is Thanksgiving week, and I'm just saying right now that I will be eating everything in sight on Thursday, it's only right. That's the problem with being on a "diet" this time of year. I have three parties this weekend, then the Holiday party season will be in full swing in the coming weeks. I believe our challenge ends on Christmas Eve, I have a feeling I'll have many cheats between now and then!

Recipes....
Last week I made Paleo Beef Stew. I made mine with deer meat and it was awesome! I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately Travis is in a picky eating phase, so of course he wouldn't even try it. Eileen will eat just about anything though, so it only makes my life slightly harder when I have to make something else for Travis.
I can say I've eaten mostly bacon, sweet potatoes, eggs, chicken, salmon, and deer meat so far, and of course lots of veggies. Everything I've made has been great though. I highly recommend sweet potato hash with eggs on top, cooked in bacon fat of course!

Prepping for Beef Stew

Finished Stew with Avocado

Travis' Self Portrait

Mom's Self Portrait pre-cyclocross race!

To Paleo or not to Paleo?

Okay, before I get too far away from a post (like another 10 months) I will post! Here are the challenges to myself this winter!

Challenge 1: I am on week number 4 of Crossfit (google it). It's crazy, but good crazy. My friend Leah turned me on to it, and boy do I need it! Having 3 babies in 5 years does not bode well for the body. Although I managed to get myself in pretty good running shape in between each baby, I neglected my overall fitness. At 37 years old I am losing muscle strength anyway, so I figured I better get on it.
Right now I am going three times a week, and I am very sore most days (it's a good sore! I swear!)
I get my run in on the rail trail after class which means I am very tired while running. On the days in between I just run and maybe do some abs. I haven't done any real running workouts yet, so I'm hoping that all this strength training will pay off when I start trying to pour on the speed. It can't hurt, right? Or can it?

Challenge 2: Cook more...again. I'm thinking of trying this whole Paleo craze (google it! LOL)! I'm not totally sold on Paleo because it cuts out so many carbs that I am used to since I am a runner. Also, I just never really buy into a craze because I am a firm believer in "calories in and calories out", or "you ate in, negate it!" But I have seen the power of Paleo in action. They are doing a Paleo challenge at the gym for six weeks, so maybe I will take the challenge. Although, those six weeks run through Thanksgiving, and that means no stuffing or mashed potatoes. Come on! That's just not right! I live for the Thanksgiving meal which is why I try to find a Turkey Trot to run before I stuff myself. I feel I must earn my dinner.

Challenge 3: Be a better Mommy. I guess really this should be challenge 1 because it should be highest on my priority list. My two eldest children are at challenging ages. Travis will be 5 in February and Eileen will be 2 in March. Sometimes I find myself going through a day where all I've done is yelled or told them don't do this or don't do that. I have little patience sometimes, and they like to push each others buttons as well as mine. For example, last night while making dinner, the baby was crying...loudly, Eileen was whining...incessantly, and Travis was singing the Batman theme song. I just soldiered on figuring if I get dinner on the table Eileen will stop whining, Travis will stop singing, and I can pick up the baby so he will stop crying. Otherwise, I will start drinking. ;)

So, on Monday I will start my challenge, because Travis has been out of school since October 29th, and he goes back on Tuesday, and also the Paleo challenge starts on Monday. Right now I am baking my second loaf of Pumpkin Bread trying to perfect my recipe!

 Photo of the week!

Eileen as Tinkerbell